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Watch the ‘FOX News Sunday' panel, Brit Hume, Susan Milligan, Mike Huckabee and Jeff Zeleny, as they discuss the 2012 general election, in our web e...
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And welcome to FOX News Sunday panel -- -- Brit Hume Susan Milligan Mike Huckabee and jobs colony.
Well we are lucky to have with us mr.
-- -- -- the national political correspondent for the New York Times in fact I was talking to about the interview.
Interviews I was into us of what would get me on the front page of the New York Times to -- at a factory and got himself on the front page of the New York Times.
-- It didn't put it didn't is you know your closer to it on a day by day basis than any of those but where is this campaign right.
Now what's important about the general election right now.
I think this campaign right now is going to shifted its focus on to President Obama.
As the we have not seen it so far and -- for the last year really it's been focused on Republicans in this sort of prelude to this but we're going to be examining his policies and personally -- there's going to be.
Watching to see.
How he.
Holds up under the the pressure of the fact that he could be a one term president not saying he's going to be we don't know that yet but I think watching him in this moment.
Is that is what's going to be interesting he's very intrigued by -- -- him.
I'm told.
Some of his advisors have been a laughing about you know some obvious stumbles and -- he makes and president while apparently has said you know this is part of gonna look so I think watching this mono a -- competition will be interest -- in -- -- notes are what happens to Santorum does he become you know how quickly does he -- and how quickly or how long does Newt Gingrich stick around all these things but.
Right now the focus is going to be on this president and to see if he's going to be reelected or not.
-- it department and the others let me asking the question I asked that David Axelrod -- -- if you -- what he is numbers on GDP growth and unemployment.
Up against the three presidents who have not gotten another term in since 1976 Ford Carter and George H.
W.
Bush.
He doesn't do well his unemployment numbers are way higher and his growth rate is the second worst.
How much of an obstacle is that I mean you know I know is is about we inherited this and it's gotten better but the fact is is you know his his absolute numbers are not very good no question.
All in his campaign realizes that it's one of the reasons that this Obama reelection campaign.
Has opened its stores for business more than a year ago and they've -- out -- trying to identify.
And round up all the eight of people who voted for my -- that they need more than a half of those people won't vote for him now so.
I think those numbers tell one part of the story the part that they don't.
But tell of the story is that that he does still have some what of electability advantage Washington Post ABC news poll this week -- that he had a a strong advantage -- you didn't want it now.
I'm not sure that that's going to hold the country really doesn't know Mitt Romney yet I mean we think that it's been on you know this primary -- has -- on television -- this is a re introduction -- but that's his one.
Advantage I think people -- -- generally.
-- a lot of people generally do you think he's an okay guy but that may not be enough.
Talking about a for Mitt Romney's point of view Governor Huckabee.
What does he need to do what does he need to do.
In terms of reintroducing himself to people you know he's got this image that rich out of touch to cadillacs cars for that at -- -- the power cars.
-- and and also -- -- somebody just because he definitely.
Has has put himself -- a bit of a spot on Hispanics and women on things like that -- -- need to do his best weapon is the words of Obama themselves if you look at the things that Obama promised.
And even said if I don't do X I should be a one term president.
All Romney's got to do is hold -- -- and the like ability factor matters a lot when the country's -- a good mood everybody's happy we're not happy.
67%.
Say we're headed the wrong direction.
Richard Nixon -- -- a likable guy but he got elected twice it's not about the like ability when the country is in crisis it's about competency.
And what Mitt Romney has to do is say look I may not be the most likable guy I know you may not think that.
-- relate to you but I can get this country back and -- all Barack Obama can do.
-- go back to push his what I call the staples button in his case it doesn't say easy it says bush.
And every time there's something wrong he pushes the bush button.
That's not gonna work this time it worked for years ago those days are gone he's got to come up with a -- something other than the one trick pony would you agree though that Romney can't just run on his biography where allied night.
You know created or helped create staples and all about.
He's got to have specific bold ideas offer an agenda program not just a -- a got to be -- got to be simple Romney's problem is he puts out a 59 point planning needs to put at a three point plan.
And he needs to make sure that people understand that yes he's rich.
This whole tax thing if -- -- Romney what I'd say as well.
I'm Smart enough and honest enough I pay all the taxes oh but I'm not so stupid as to pay more taxes and -- obligated.
That's how he should get out of that says.
I definitely agree that Obama is as vulnerable but I I'm not -- the comparison is exactly right for some of it you know the previous comments have been defeated -- -- Ford wasn't really an incumbent he had never been elected president -- vice president.
And both Carter and bush had.
You know had people running against -- -- -- extraordinary skills Reagan was a visionary and Clinton was an incredible campaign are so.
I think there's a vulnerability that that Romney's really gonna have to find a way that connect with the voters in a way.
That he hasn't even as business expenses not quite the same because I think people -- -- we don't hate rich people in this country for the most part I don't think but people respect somebody who you know.
Built a company and and you know came up with an idea.
Being the head of an investment company even though that's necessary for you for investing in business for keeping business that's going.
People can relate to that as much removing other people's money around to taking a -- of -- is not the same thing as.
Building a business from the ground up.
Chris -- a very simple.
This'll actually to be about Obama.
Or if his campaign succeeds.
Will be about Mitt Romney.
My guess is.
That tactic won't work.
But the rock but the Obama campaign clearly thinks it has some things to work with -- -- -- to say I mean bush in 2004 was able to make -- a choice election and to make.
John Kerry less appealing than George W well their -- -- president race and -- -- -- about it forever what I would simply say businesses.
-- man -- not supposed to had any real bold ideas Mitt Romney has staked out some pretty strong position the Ryan budget which he's broadly accepted.
There's all kinds of Democrat stuff right out of the old democratic playbook in that budget that will be open to attack and will be attacked repeatedly.
And this'll be -- they'll be an effort on just to portray Romney as extreme.
Out of touch and scary.
My guess is it won't work.
But if it does that will greatly improve the president's chances of being being reelected.
My guess is it will not work and that Romney will come through -- of them I'm going to really affect us of the Newt Gingrich and Israel is Sunday a city into your Christmas -- it during the commercial Reyes and you know.
You might ask you to go out on the campaign trail this fall and go around the country accusing me -- -- moderate and it is.
I -- Nintendo said.
And he chuckled.
All right thank you all -- obviously -- going to be talking about this a lot for the next six and a half months.
Placed second with us throughout the week look -- my Monday edition of Wallace -- -- you can find right here at fox -- is on -- dot com.
We'll see you back here next.
